Bedclothes support



May 27, 1952 c. w. PELTON BEDCLOTHES SUPPORT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 13, 1947 INVENTOR CLYDE w. PELTONV ATTORNEYS May 27, 1952 c. w. PELTON BEDCLOTHES SUPPORT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 13, 1947 CLYDE W. PELTON ATTORNEYS May 27, 1952 C. W. PELTON BEDCLOTHES SUPPORT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 13, 1947 INVENTOR CLYDE. W. DELTQN BY v ' ATTORN EYS Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.598.295 BED'CLOTHES sUePon'i' Clyde W. 'Pelton, Akron, Ohio hpiilicaitidh-Fbtiutry 1a, 1947, serielNo. 728,239

9 crime.

invention relates to bed 'elctlies holders for use with the mattress, springs, and bed clothes of a conventional bed, for supportingthe bed enters in an eieveteaipesitichahove the feet and lower pdrtiehs 6f the legs of the 'bccnpant BIfthebed. V n v It is wen known that there are some 'people who cannot sleep atfainy time with bed covers in 'ebhtaet with their feet fand lower extremities. Also, in "eases where injuries have occurred to these her ti'qhs 6f the'boa'y it isdes'irabl'e to 'el'evate the bed'covrs while'suchinjuries are healing, "withoiit however, 'saljrificihgjthe wa mth reifived ffbih "covers in 'bdiitaet with the rest of the body.

Hence, it is an obfeet (if this invention to pro- Vid'e 'a bed clothes holder which "will elevate the covers 'Ti'oin th'e lower end 6f the bed, which holder is formed aseeeparate unit adapted for attachiiieht to a bed with fine poltidn of the unit eing inserted between thes 'irings and the lower end df the I'll atl'lfess, and being held against disilaceinent "by 'a 'fc'able "or the like secured between said iid'rt'lbh and la holdiilg bracket 'or ether 86- cii'ring member arranged over the upper end of thefbed'snrings. Another object is "to provide a bed clothes holderiinit havinga 'iior'tionmovab'le from an inopeiativ'e liOliz'OIifial fpo s'itidh ti) "an Operative vertical position and vice versa, so th'atin its hori- 'zohtal "position it will lie on top of the lower sheet or mattress and will not interfere with making up the bed in the usual manner, but' which may thereafter be moved to its vertical jiosition to raise the lower end of the bed covers and keensuch ceverselevated. n l

A further object is "to provide means for adjusting the height to which themeveme po'rtio'n fef the unit "may be raised, and't'o ip'rovide means for moving said "portion to "and from its operative position. v \v n A further object is to provide a hinged extensionen the u per end ofthe movable portion of said uni whieh .expehs en qpeiipies a. hori- "zontal position when said movable ,pjo'rtion "is in horizontal position. but whichex-t s'ion eh feecount-or its hinge action Tend the force at gravit ltffids Tag bbI-iifid Said jindvh'bl pbrftibn as the Iafiti moves to 'OpelatiVe pbsi tioi'i until Tsa'i'd ex 'teiisidn assumes an angu ar position nearly at but less than right angles "withrespect to said ii i ble h mes en mete; it remem e 1T0 Increase the; v hich the unit is eft be iei ebed l. h s. H

Other Tobi'e'cts and eaten-rages will beeeme P- parent from th'e followingjdescriiition when in conjunction with the accoinnanying drawings.

Wh me's.

A Fig. 1 is "a perspective "view showing the unit in operative position; one. bed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged re ar elevatidnof the unit,

Fig. Sis a further enlarged secti on taken substantially-on line 3-3 of Fig.2,

broken away, (Showing a modified mechanism for moving the movable portion of th unit to and from :operative'pos'ition,

Fig. '6.is a side elevation and partial section or the mechanism in Fig. 5, taken substantially on line 6+Bof Fig.5 n

Fig.7 is a section taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. '5, with parts 'broken'awa'y and shown in elevation,

Fig. 8 is an en'larged re'ar elevation of another modificationshowing means for locking the mo'vable portion'of the unit i'n'vertical position, and

Fig. 9 is a side elevationof a portion of the device shown in Fig. 8,.

Referring tothe'drawings, the numeral I0 designates a conventional b'ed including the eastomary set of springs 11 arranged substantially co-extensive with the bed frame, and which springs support the usualmattress -l 2. I

The 'bed clothes holder unit is indicated as a whole by the numeral I3 and comprises a stationary base of substantially rectangular'shape, having side arms-l 4 integrally connected at their forward ends to a front :arm l5 while the rear ends of arms 14 are turned upwardl'y at right angles to form extensions 16, and a biiaci-ng-arm I1 is welded or otherwise suitably secured between the extensions I6 near the bottom of the latter.

Welded or otherwise secured to the front face of each extension 1'6 is a vertical tubular memreadily understood. I

Ihe lipl er of each red I isthreaded into a friction bearing 2| and these bearings rotatably and extension 26 formed substantially as an in-.

verted U, which is adapted to assume the angular position with respect to arms 25 that is shown in full lines in Fig. 4, whenever arms 25 are in vertical position, and to move to the lower broken line position in Fig. 4 whenever arms 25 are in horizontal position.

This angular position of extension 26 is preferably achieved by the hinge arrangement shown in Figs. 4a and 41). As shown, the outer ends of arms 25 are cut away to provide an end portion 21 about one-half the thickness of the rest of the arm, while a slightly inclined outer surface 28, in this instance about of inclination, is formed on the other half of the arm ends. The inner ends of the extension 26 are also cut away to provide end portions 29 of about half thickness, so that the end portions 21 and 29 may be joined together by a pivot pin 35, such as a free rivet, which will permit limited pivoted movement of the hinge joint. By virtue of the arrangement 'described, the extension 25 will maintain its angular position of about 15 less than a right angle with respect to arms 25 when the latter are in vertical position, but this extension is free to move in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, as arms 25 move to a horizontal position. The extent of counter-clockwise movement of extension 26 is, of course, limited by the upper surface of the mattress or lower sheet.

Upon movement of arms 25 from their horizontal to their vertical position, extension 25 will first move to the intermediate broken line position shown in Fig. 4, where it assumes the angular position previously mentioned, and because it cannot move beyond this angular position due to its engagement with the inclined surfaces 28, it will retain such position as arms 25 continue to move to vertical position.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, a securing means, such as an elastic cable 3!, has one end secured at 32 to the base of the holder unit, while its other end is secured at 33 to a U-shaped holding bracket 34 which extends over the upper end of and under the bed springs H.

With the arrangement described, the bed clothes holder unit may be quickly and easily placed in position at the lower end of the bed with the base portion of the unit between the springs l i and mattress l2, and it will be held in proper position by cable 3l and bracket 34.

The movable portion of the holder unit which comprises arms 25 and extension 26 is adapted to be mechanically moved from its horizontal to its vertical position and vice versa. In Figs. 1 to 4 I have shown one mechanism for accomplishing this movement, which includes a vertical worm shaft 35, carrying a worm 36 at its upper end, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of a worm wheel 31, keyed or otherwise secured to shaft 22. Shaft is rotatably'mounted in a vertical housing 38, having a lateral opening 39 near its upper end to permit the worm wheel 3'! to enter the housing and engage the worm 36. Housing 38 is held in position by a relatively wide bracket 40 secured to the rear face of the bracing arm I! by means of screws M, or the like. The lower end of shaft 35 is reduced in size, as at 42, and carries a handle member 53 which may be grasped by the operator when it is desired to turn this shaft.

In operation, the holder unit is placed; in proper position with respect to the springs and mattress as previously described. The adjustable rods l9 are moved vertically to the desired position and held in such position by tightening the thumb screws 20. Since vertical movement of the rods |9 necessarily involves vertical movement of shaft 22, it is necessary to loosen the bracket 40 so that the worm housing and worm shaft may also be moved to maintain the worm 36 and worm wheel 31 in engagement. After such movement, the worm housing and shaft may again be properly held by tightening the screws 4!.

After 'all adjustments have been made, the worm shaft 35 is rotated until shaft 22 is rotated about a quarter of a revolution, which will move arms 25 and extension 26 to the horizontal position, shown in the lower broken lines in Fig. 4. While these members are inhorizontal position the bed is made up, with the bed clothes 54 arranged over the holder unit and extending over the end of the bed for any distance desired by the occupant. Suitable means (not shown) such as pins or clamps may be used to hold down the lower ends of the bed clothes, or these ends may be tucked under the mattress.

The worm shaft 35 is now turned by means of the handle 43 until arms 25 and extension 28 reach the full line position shown in Fig. 4, thus lifting the lower portion of the bed clothes and holding it in elevated'position. While the arms 25 would of themselves raise the bed covers to a certain extent, the angular extension 26 materially assists these arms and increases the area over which the movable portion of the holder unit is efifective to elevate the bed covers. Further, by being collapsible to a horizontal position, the extension 26 permits the bed covers to be placed over the movable portion of the unit without leaving an unsightly bulge, so that when the bed is made up and not in use, it is not readily apparent that the holder unit is attached to .the bed.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I have shown'a modified mechanism for raising and lowering the movable portion of the unit. In this modification, the

shaft 22 does not carry a worm wheel, but has a cam member 44' secured thereto by means of a set screw 45, said cam having a radial opening 46. A tubular housing 41 has its upper end bifurcated to provide end portions 48 and 48 which engage the sides of cam 44' and through which the shaft 22 extends, the arrangement being such that housing 41 may be moved in an arcuate patharound shaft 22 unless it is connected to cam 44' as hereinafter described.

Extending through housing 41 is a handle 29 having an enlarged upper end 50 that carries a preferably integral pin 5| adapted to be received in the opening 46. Intermediate its ends, handle 49 has a shoulder 52 against which one end of a coil spring 53 is adapted to bear, while the opposite end of thisspring bears against a thrust screw 54 threaded into the lower end of housing 4']. Screw 54 has an opening through which the handle!!! can pass, and spring 53 managers has a normaltendenoytomove the pin 5| into the opening 46.

Thus, when pin-5| is inthe opening 4'6,--the cam 44 and housing '41 are connected, andarcuate movement of j'handle 49 will rotate cam 44' and turn shaft 22. When it is desiredto release .the pin 5| from operative engagement with thecam, handle 49 is pulled longitudinally against the action of spring 53 untilthepin is out of opening 55, after which the handleand housingf l'l are movable independently of "the cam.

Opening at is preferably in alignment with .the arms 25, as indicated in Fig. 6, and when handle 49 is moved from the full line position;

to the broken line position in Fig. 6, arms and extension 25 will be moved to their horizontal position. Arms 25 and extension 26 may be left in their horizontal position, while handle 48 and housing 41 are returned to their downward position, merely by pulling pin 5| from opening 46 and moving the handle back.

Means are provided to lock the housing 4'! and handle 49 in their downward or vertical position. As shown in Figs. 5 and '7, the bracing arm I? differs from arm [1, previously described, by having an arcuate portion against which the housing 41 rests when in its downward position. To hold housing 4'! in this position, an arcuate clamping member 56 has one end pivoted as at 5'| so that this clamping member may be swung to the full line position as shown in Fig. '7 to hold housing 41 in vertical position by frictional engagement. The free end of member 55 carries a depending stop pin 58 which may be grasped by the operator to move the clamping member to its broken line position in Fig. 7 so as to free the housing 41 for upward movement, and it will be noted that stop pin EBwill contact arm IT to limit the amount of pivotal movement of member 55.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a bed clothes holder um't similar to that previously disclosed, except that its movable portion may be easily moved by hand from its horizontal to vertical position and vice versa. In this embodiment, the bearing 2! is provided with an eccentric opening 59 arranged parallel with shaft 22, which openingis adapted, when arms 25 are in their vertical position, to receive the inner end of a spring pressed pin 60 that extends eccentrically through the adjacent bearing 23', said pin being normally forced inwardly by the action of its associated spring. Thus, pin 50 serves to lock the arms 25 in their vertical position. When it is desired to move arms 25 to their horizontal position it is only necessary to pull pin 50 from opening 59 and manually turn' these arms downwardly, which action will move pin 59 out of alignment with opening 59 to free- 1y permit movement of arms 25. When the latter arms are manually returned to vertical position, pin 60 will again come into alignment with opening 59 and this pin will automatically be forced into this opening by the spring action, as will be readily understood.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will he understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the sub-joined claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A bed clothes holder unit comprising a stamfi'spring's; mattr ada pted to evate rlthes abeve ti'on'ary frame me 'be'rhld in "position --at the "foot er said 'bed betwe'en sai'd mattress and rrgmeuppcrts nc-member,

rewrthpami an an w iiar extension maged to 2. 'l he com bi nation avith a bed having =a set i f-a' holder -said bed mattress, comprising *a stasprings, a'rotatable shaft mounted on said frame member inherizontal position, a pair of spaced arms radially connected to said shaft for movement therewith from a vertical position to a horizontal position on top of said mattress and vice versa, and an extension hinged to said arms for movement from an angular position to a horizontal position and vice versa with respect to said arms.

3. A combination as recited in claim 2 wherein means are provided for rotating said shaft comprising a worm wheel secured to said shaft, a worm in mesh with said wheel, and a handle for turning said worm.

4. A combination as recited in claim 2 wherein means are provided for rotating said shaft comprising a cam secured to said shaft and having a radial opening therein, and a spring pressed handle member having a pin on its inner end movable into and out of engagement with said opening.

5. A unit of the character recited in claim 1 wherein means are provided for rotating said shaft comprising a worm wheel secured to said shaft, a worm in mesh with said wheel, and a handle for turning said worm.

6. A unit of the character recited in claim 1 wherein means are provided for rotating said shaft comprising a cam secured to said shaft and having a radial opening therein, and a spring pressed handle member having a pin on its inner end movable into and out of engagement with said opening.

7. A bed clothes holder unit comprising a stationary portion adapted to be mounted at the foot of a bed, means for securing said portion in proper position with respect to said bed, a pair of upright supports secured to the lower end of said stationary portion, a movable portion operatively connected to said supports and comprising a pair of spaced arms movable from a horizontal position to a vertical position and vice versa, and an extension hinged to said arms so as to be movable from a horizontal position to an angular position and vice versa with respect to said arms.

8. A unit of the character recited in claim '7 wherein the hinge joints connecting said extension to said arms comprise a pin connected between said extension and said arms and about which said extension may pivot, and means on said arms for limiting the pivotal movement of said extension so as to assure an angular relationship between said arms and said extension of less than a right angle when said arms are in vertical position.

9. The combination with a bed having a set of springs, a mattress, and bed clothes, of a bed clothes holder comprising a stationary portion mounted at the foot of said bed between said springs and mattress, a pair of upright supports secured to the lower end of said portion and against which bears the lower end of said mattress, means for holding said stationary portion in proper position with respect to said mattress, a movable portion operatively connected to said supports and comprising a pair of spaced arms movable from a horizontal position to a vertical position and vice versa, and an extension hinged to said arms so as to be movable from a horizontal position to an angular position and vice versa with respect to said arms, said bed clothes being placed over said arms and extension while the latter are in horizontal position and being elevated above said mattress by said arms and extension when said arms are in vertical position.

CLYDE W-. PELTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,175,526 Jones Mar. 14, 1916 2,106,834 Ewald Feb. 1, 1938 2,198,982 Twomey Apr. 30, 1940 2,235,191 Arnould Mar. 13, 1941 2,300,898 Allen NOV. 3, 1942 2,401,999 Wolfe June 11, 1946 

